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Column: What an eight-team College Football Playoff would look like

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Bill Hancock, executive director of the College Football Playoff and Tommy Bain, chairman of the Stadium Events Organizing Committee speak at a press conference to announce the events surrounding the National Championship game at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, Friday, August 29, 2014. (Rodger Mallison/Fort Worth Star-Telegram/MCT)

Bill Hancock, executive director of the College Football Playoff and Tommy Bain, chairman of the Stadium Events Organizing Committee speak at a press conference to announce the events surrounding the National Championship game at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, Friday, August 29, 2014.  (Rodger Mallison/Fort Worth Star-Telegram/MCT) Bill Hancock, executive director of the College Football Playoff and Tommy Bain, chairman of the Stadium Events Organizing Committee speak at a press conference to announce the events surrounding the National Championship game at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, Friday, August 29, 2014. (Rodger Mallison/Fort Worth Star-Telegram/MCT)

The inaugural College Football Playoff semifinal took place Thursday night, as No. 2 Oregon and No. 4 Ohio State clinched berths to the national championship game.

The new CFP and New Year's Six bowl system was a rousing success in its first year, appearing to get the final two teams right and having some of the year's most exciting games.

But how would things have looked in an eight-team playoff that many coaches, including ASU coach Todd Graham, have advocated?

An eight-team playoff system would potentially go as follows. Each of the Power 5 conference champions (Pac-12, Big 10, Big XII, SEC and ACC) would be guaranteed a berth, with three wild card berths from any conference.

When looking at the final CFP rankings, the new system would work seamlessly:

1. Alabama (12-1)*

2. Oregon (12-1)*

3. Florida State (13-0)*

4. Ohio State (12-1)*

5. Baylor (11-1)+

6. TCU (11-1)+

7. Mississippi State (10-2)

8. Michigan State (10-2)

* = Conference Champion

+ = Big XII Co-Champion

Each of the games would take place during one of the current New Year's Six bowl games, allowing each game to have importance in the national title picture.

So how would it play out? Let's take a look.

No. 1 Alabama (12-1) vs. No. 8 Michigan State (10-2) - Orange Bowl, Miami

The Pick: Alabama

This is a fun matchup between Alabama coach Nick Saban and one of his former schools, as Saban coached the Spartans from 1995-99. Redshirt senior quarterback Blake Sims had an impressive 2014 campaign behind a new spread look incorporated by offensive coordinator Lane Kiffin. Michigan State spread things out more for quarterback Connor Cook, but still maintains the power element behind running back Jeremy Langford. However, Alabama is just too talented and matches up perfectly to what Michigan State does well.

No. 2 Oregon (12-1) vs. No. 7 Mississippi State (10-2) - Fiesta Bowl, Glendale, Arizona

The Pick: Oregon

Oregon is just on another level compared to the rest of the country, and proved that yet again in blowing out Florida State 59-20 in the Rose Bowl. Heisman Trophy winner Marcus Mariota is the undisputed top player in college football, and continues to look better with each coming game. The Bulldogs were one of college football's best stories behind quarterback Dak Prescott, but fell apart down the stretch, culminating in an Orange Bowl loss to No. 12 Georgia Tech.

No. 3 Florida State (13-0) vs. No. 6 TCU (11-1) - Peach Bowl, Atlanta

The Pick: TCU

Florida State entered the CFP having not lost in its last 29 games. The defending national champions, however, looked as human as ever during the 2014 season in stumbling to a perfect record in a mediocre ACC conference. Oregon exposed them and quarterback Jameis Winston in the Rose Bowl en route to a 59-20 blowout. TCU, on the other hand, felt cheated out of a CFP berth after being ranked No. 3 the week before the final ranking were released. The Horned Frogs let out their frustrations in the Peach Bowl against No. 9 Ole Miss in a 42-3 blowout, proving that they deserved to be in the national title picture.

No. 4 Ohio State (12-1) vs. No. 5 Baylor (11-1) - Cotton Bowl, Arlington, Texas

The Pick: Ohio State

Ohio State has faced adversity. Knocked down to its third-string quarterback in Cardale Jones, many believed that the Buckeyes weren't worthy of the CFP even with a 59-0 dismantling of Wisconsin in the Big Ten championship game. They bucked the critics Thursday night, beating the No. 1 Crimson Tide 42-35 in the Sugar Bowl. Baylor felt left out of the top four, and played well through three quarters in the Cotton Bowl against No. 8 Michigan State. The Bears ended up blowing the lead in a 42-41 loss, and I think Baylor would have a similar letdown against the Buckeyes.

No. 2 Oregon (12-1) vs. No. 6 TCU (11-1) - Rose Bowl, Pasadena, California

The Pick: Oregon

Oregon rolled to a 59-20 win over Florida State in the actual Rose Bowl, and I expect them to pick up the win again to get to the national championship game. Trevone Boykin and TCU won't make it easy, though. I think the Horned Frogs make it a game, but Oregon will pull away for the win in the fourth quarter.

No. 1 Alabama (12-1) vs. No. 4 Ohio State (12-1) - Sugar Bowl, New Orleans

The Pick: Ohio State

We had the luxury of seeing this already play out. Ohio State has just been the better team of late, with an ability to expose Alabama over the top. Blake Sims is turnover-prone, and it came back to haunt the Crimson Tide Thursday. Ohio State came back from a 20-6 deficit to win in a 42-35 classic.

The national championship? Just what we actually got.

No. 2 Oregon (12-1) vs. No. 4 Ohio State (12-1) - AT&T; Stadium, Dallas

With the excitement brought upon by the inaugural College Football Playoff, it's hard to imagine an eight-team playoff not matching, if not exceeding the ratings and excitement.

Reach the assistant sports editor at fardaya@asu.edu or follow @fardaya15 on Twitter

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